A consortium led by private equity firms KKR and PAG has agreed to acquire Sapporo Holdings’ real estate subsidiary in a deal valued at about $3 billion, marking another high-profile transaction as Japanese companies increasingly shed non-core assets and embrace foreign capital. Sapporo Holdings said on Wednesday that the deal to sell Sapporo Real Estate… Continue reading KKR, PAG to buy Sapporo Real Estate for $3B as Japan embraces private equity
stocktrader
Morning brief: Asian shares advance as Yen slides; Gold hits record on rate-cut bets
Asian markets began the week on a firm footing, buoyed by technology-led gains on Wall Street, while gold surged to fresh record highs amid expectations of easier US monetary policy. Elsewhere, China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged despite weak economic data, and ride-hailing firms Uber and Lyft announced plans to trial driverless taxis in… Continue reading Morning brief: Asian shares advance as Yen slides; Gold hits record on rate-cut bets
Weak labour market, not inflation, will drive multiple Fed rate cuts in 2026, says Commerzbank
The US Federal Reserve could be on course for several interest rate cuts in 2026, even if a pause is more likely in January, Commerzbank AG said. The US labour market’s momentum has significantly stalled, with minimal job creation observed in recent months. The US labour market showed surprisingly weak growth in November, with the… Continue reading Weak labour market, not inflation, will drive multiple Fed rate cuts in 2026, says Commerzbank
China is ‘leaps and bounds ahead’ in robotics, experts says
China’s rapid embrace of robotics is reshaping everyday life and positioning the country as a global leader in advanced technologies. While the US remains focused on artificial intelligence (AI) chips only, China has already achieved dominance in robotics, clean-tech, and other strategic sectors, said Elizabeth Economy in a CNBC interview today. In fact, China is… Continue reading China is ‘leaps and bounds ahead’ in robotics, experts says
Smartphones and PCs are about to get expensive next year; here’s why
Consumers planning to buy a new PC or smartphone next year may face higher prices, and the reason is increasingly clear: soaring memory costs driven by artificial intelligence demand. Micron Technology’s latest financial results offer a window into how the AI boom is reshaping the global memory market — with ripple effects across consumer electronics.… Continue reading Smartphones and PCs are about to get expensive next year; here’s why
From IndiGo seats to your phone bill: who is profiting as Indian markets concentrate
When a single airline carries nearly two-thirds of India’s domestic passengers and two apps handle more than four out of every five UPI transactions, market dominance is no longer an abstract policy; it becomes a monthly line item on your bill. India’s economy has quietly consolidated into oligopolies across essential services. IndiGo’s December 2025 operational… Continue reading From IndiGo seats to your phone bill: who is profiting as Indian markets concentrate
Trump secures deals with nine pharma firms to lower US drug prices, avert tariffs
US President Donald Trump announced deals with nine major pharmaceutical companies on Friday to lower US drug prices in exchange for three-year exemptions from threatened tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. The agreements bring the total number of drugmakers aligned with Trump’s pricing initiative to 14 of the 17 companies the administration targeted this year. The latest… Continue reading Trump secures deals with nine pharma firms to lower US drug prices, avert tariffs
XRP ETF inflows are rising even as token price falls: here’s why
XRP’s spot ETFs are sucking in roughly $50 million a day in fresh capital, hitting nearly $1 billion in inflows in under four weeks, the fastest adoption pace since Ethereum ETFs launched. Yet the token itself has cratered 11% over the past ten days and sits near $1.72, well below the $2.00 psychological support that… Continue reading XRP ETF inflows are rising even as token price falls: here’s why
Don’t count on a ‘Santa Claus rally’ this year: market technician warns
US stocks, as represented by the benchmark S&P 500 index, are on track to close the year in green. But a so-called “Santa Claus rally” may not show up this year – and that doesn’t paint a particularly rosy picture of what’s to come in 2026, says Jonathan Krinsky, chief market technician at BTIG. The… Continue reading Don’t count on a ‘Santa Claus rally’ this year: market technician warns